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Background and aim: Many studies have been carried out about bedrest and its effects on different systems including musculoskeletal,neuromuscular,cognition and vascular systems throughout the world.The purpose of this paper is to review systematically all Berlin Bedrest Studies on musculoskeletal system.The focus of this review is  mainly Second  Berlin Bedrest Study (2^nd BBRS) supported by European Space Agency(ESA).Such studies provide a chance to study the specific effects of immobilization without interference of other diseases.
Materials and Methods: A literature search was carried out using MEDLINE and ESA database to assess existing literature about the effect of bedrest on musculoskeletal system published by Berlin Bedrest Studies.It has been searched for efficacy of interventions  as high load resistive exercise and whole body vibration,as well.
Results: Fourty six articles have been found from 2000 to 2011year: 2 articles in 2000 and 2003,the other ones  between 2005 to 2011. Seventeen  articles were related to muscle and intervention on it,three ones about bone and related intervention on it,four  ones related to both bone and muscle and twenty two ones about the other systems  such as heart,vesseles,sleep and cognition.
Conclusion: According‏‏‏ to study results,bedrest has widespread effects on musculoskeletal system specially in early bedrest . These  effects remain up to 180 days  after bedrest course.Thus,high load resistive exercise and vibration should be prescribed in early stage of bedrest to reduce the detrimential effects of prolonged bedrest.

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 Background and Aim:  Because of high incidence of hand injuries and the need for a quantitative method that provides measures of patient improvement in treatment period, a precise and easy-to-apply quantitative procedure is necessary. As a first step in validating of such a method, the intersession repeatability of quantified measures was assessed in this study. 

Materials and Methods: Measurement of hand drawing skills by drawing circle shape in two speeds (preferred and maximum) and spiral shape just in a preferred voluntary speed with two repetitions for each subject was assessed in 15 subjects. Digital data was recorded by a Tablet PC using special software with average sampling rate of 120 Hz.

Results: The quantified variables computed for circle and spiral drawing tests with preferred speed were reliable (0.55 < ICC < 0.85), so they can be used for drawing quantifications. Results of drawing circles with maximum speed were not reliable (ICC<0.5).

 Conclusion: Repeatability analysis revealed that measures based on drawing circles with maximum speed are not repeatable and cannot be used for progress monitoring. This may be due to large variation in providing maximum drawing speed during test time. On the other hand, spiral and circle drawing parameters with preferred speed had a better repeatability and can be used for quantification of hand drawings in researches. 

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Background and Aim: Osteoarthritis is the most common joint disease in adults around the world and plays a great role in inducing disability in elderly. Patients suffering from severe knee osteoarthritis usually complain of pain and severe functional disability. For these patients, conservative treatments are often induces least remedy for pain and improvement of functional ability. This study evaluates the effects of knee mechanical traction on pain, edema, range of movement and functional ability in patients with severe knee osteoarthritis.

Materials and Methods: In this clinical trial, forty women with severe knee OA (grade 3 & 4 on the Kellgren-Lawrence grading scale) were recruited and randomly divided into two groups with different treatment protocols (common physiotherapy treatment and common physiotherapy treatment accompanied by knee traction). Functional capacity and level of pain were assessed by 6-minute walking test and visual analog scale respectively. A goniometer was used to measure knee range of movement and edema was also evaluated by use of measuring tape.

 Results: Common physiotherapy treatment accompanied by knee traction compared to common physiotherapy treatment leads to significant decrease in pain (P<0.01) and increase in functional capacity (P<0.05).

Conclusion: Common physiotherapy treatment accompanied by knee traction is a more effective treatment than common physiotherapy procedure in patients with severe knee osteoarthritis.

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Background and Aim: Sacroiliac joint (SIJ) is one of the most important elements in normal musculoskeletal function during gait cycle and serve as a shock absorber during heel strike and load transfer from lower limbs to trunk. Its stabilizing is the product of osseous, ligamentus and muscular elements which muscle activity of these muscles (Gluteus Maximus, Biceps Femoris, Multifidus, Erector Spinea, and Latissimus Dorsi) is important in load transfer through SIJ. It seems that the function of the given muscles in sacroiliac joint pain subjects is interrupted. So, the aim of the present study is to compare muscle activity during different events of stance phase of gait cycle during preferred and slow speed between sacroiliac joint pain and healthy subjects.

  

Methods and Materials: Thirteen SIJ pain subjects (12 females, 1 male) and thirteen healthy subjects (11 females, 2 male) participated in this study. Muscle activity based on RMS from selected muscles was recorded during different events of stance phase of gait either preferred or slow speed by EMG Data-link Biometrics and normalized according to muscle activity during a 500 ms period in rest position before starting walking called Baseline Correction.

  

Results: Significant statistical differences were found between two groups in muscle activity based RMS during different events of stance (p=0/006), but there was no significant difference in effect of speed on RMS between two groups (p=0/37). Significant Statistical differences were also seen between selected muscles in each group separately during slow speed of walking (p=0/003) but no significant statistical difference during preferred speed in SIJ pain group (p=0/14).

  

Conclusion: SIJ subjects have showed increased levels of muscle activity during different events of stance phase of gait with preferred and slow speeds. These increased levels can be interpreted as a mechanism to control trunk movements effectively, provide sufficient support and transfer load to lumbar area efficiently.

  

Key words: Muscle activity, Sacroiliac joint, Gait, Trunk muscle, Lower limb muscles

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Background and Aim: Low back pain (LBP) is the most common and expensive musculoskeletal problem in industrialized societies. One in ten people suffers from LBP once in his life. It is self-limited up to 90%, but it is common to repeat. By the way, sacroiliac joint (SIJ) is the origin of low back and pelvic pain in many cases and one of the most important elements in normal musculoskeletal function during gait cycle. Muscles are important to stabilize this joint plus to bones and ligaments. Some of the muscles (Gluteus Maximus, Biceps Femoris, Multi Fidus, Erector Spinae) contributing in gait cycle are important to transfer load through SIJ. The aim of this present study is to compare muscle activity timing during initial and mid stance phase of gait cycle.

  

Methods and Materials: Sixteen low back pain cases and fifteen healthy subjects participated in this study. A footswitch is placed beneath foot at the suffered side in LBP cases and dominant foot in control group. Two markers were on the 5^th metatarsal bone and lateral maleolus. Electrodes are placed on selected muscles according to SENIAM. Digital camera and EMG Datalink were turned on simultaneously and subject started to walk with his own favorite speed in a specific direction and path. Onset and time to peak of selected muscles were recorded during gait by Datalink and processed by its software.

  

Results: Low back pain cases showed delayed muscle onset, although it was not significant (P=0.4). Time to peak of all selected muscles in loading response event in LBP group was longer and significant (P=0.01). There was also significant difference in time to peak of all selected muscles during mid-stance event (P= 0.005) except biceps femoris muscle.

  

Conclusion: Delayed onset and longer time to peak during initial and mid stance phase of gait can be interpreted as a compensatory strategy to control trunk movements effectively, provide sufficient stability and transfer load to lumbar area efficiently.

  

Key words: Muscle activity, Low back pain, Gait, Trunk muscles, Lower Limb Muscles

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Background and Aim: Low back pain (LBP) is the most common and expensive musculoskeletal problem in industrialized societies. One in ten people suffers from LBP once in his life. It is self-limited up to 90%, but it is common to repeat. By the way, sacroiliac joint (SIJ) is the origin of low back and pelvic pain in many cases and one of the most important elements in normal musculoskeletal function during gait cycle. Muscles are important to stabilize this joint plus to bones and ligaments. Some of the muscles (Gluteus Maximus, Biceps Femoris, Multi Fidus, Erector Spinae) contributing in gait cycle are important to transfer load through SIJ. The aim of this present study is to compare muscle activity timing during initial and mid stance phase of gait cycle.

  

Methods and Materials: Sixteen low back pain cases and fifteen healthy subjects participated in this study. A footswitch is placed beneath foot at the suffered side in LBP cases and dominant foot in control group. Two markers were on the 5^th metatarsal bone and lateral maleolus. Electrodes are placed on selected muscles according to SENIAM. Digital camera and EMG Datalink were turned on simultaneously and subject started to walk with his own favorite speed in a specific direction and path. Onset and time to peak of selected muscles were recorded during gait by Datalink and processed by its software.

  

Results: Low back pain cases showed delayed muscle onset, although it was not significant (P=0.4). Time to peak of all selected muscles in loading response event in LBP group was longer and significant (P=0.01). There was also significant difference in time to peak of all selected muscles during mid-stance event (P= 0.005) except biceps femoris muscle.

  

Conclusion: Delayed onset and longer time to peak during initial and mid stance phase of gait can be interpreted as a compensatory strategy to control trunk movements effectively, provide sufficient stability and transfer load to lumbar area efficiently.

  

Key words: Muscle activity, Low back pain, Gait, Trunk muscles, Lower Limb Muscles